Senate resumes cybersecurity push

Members of the Senate on Jan. 23 introduced a resolution to return cybersecurity to Congress’ list of legislative priorities, marking the first steps to pass cyber laws since Congress failed to do so in the fall of 2012.

“With information technology now the backbone of the United States economy, a critical element of United States national security infrastructure and defense systems, the primary foundation of global communications, and a key enabler of most critical infrastructure, nearly every single United States citizen is touched by cyberspace and is threatened by cyber attacks,” the bill text reads.

The measure, which had not yet been assigned a bill number, also noted the ongoing and increasing malicious activity in cyberspace, as well as previous governmental recognition of cyber threats and the need for better public-private partnerships as key aspects of the need of legislation.

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“The new Congress has a real opportunity to reach needed consensus on bipartisan legislation that will strengthen our nation’s cybersecurity,” Rockefeller said in a prepared statement. “Throughout my five years of work on cyber, our military and national security officials and our country’s top business executives have made it abundantly clear that the serious threats to our country grow every day. The private sector and the government must work together to secure the networks that are vital to American businesses and communities. It is a priority this year to act on comprehensive cybersecurity legislation.”

According to the bill text, the lawmakers hope to address cybersecurity by hardening communications and networks; establishing mechanisms for public-private information-sharing and threat detection, assessment and response; promoting investment in research and development and in workforce training; targeting identity theft and protection; and enhancing partnership and cooperation.

The resolution does not delve into some of the more controversial measures that doomed cyber legislation in 2012, such as disputes over whether to incentivize or require private industry – including owners and operators of critical infrastructure – to participate in government security efforts, as well as over privacy concerns. Those debates, among others, are certain to return along with the revived discussion of how to best implement cybersecurity, and Feinstein touched on that impending negotiation.

“The threat of a cyber attack is real, and it is growing,” Feinstein said. “Congress must act soon to improve the government’s ability to share and receive information on cyber attacks and threats with the private sector. Our national and economic security depend on robust information sharing, and I look forward to working with my colleagues again this Congress to develop strong incentives for this practice, coupled with the needed privacy protections.”

OPM is partnering with CSID to try to manage the fallout from a massive breach of some 4 million federal personnel records.

Reader comments

Fri, Jan 25, 2013
IT Headhunters
Dallas

Cybercrime is a threat to our national security and I'm glad we are taking a more proactive approach. I agree, the private sector and the government must work together to secure the networks that are vital to American businesses and communities. It is a priority this year to act on comprehensive cybersecurity legislation.
Than Nguyen
http://www.insourcegroup.com

Fri, Jan 25, 2013
Paul Misner
Columbia, MD

Senate walks a fine line here. If the bill is too weak, it will have no value as all. Too rigid, and it will result in agencies and companies being forced to implement out of date processes, hardware, software, and procedures that will increasingly become less valuable. What is needed is a strong, but balanced framework which is easy to understand, and dynamic to meet a dynamic set of adversaries.
I think this type of legislation should be enforced with a carrot, rather than a stick, but providing protection from penalties for entities that follow it's guidelines, rather than punishment for those agencies who fail to make an effort to enforce.

Thu, Jan 24, 2013
crosseye

Freedom of Speech, via the Internet, is under a serious threat by cyber-security legislation. "Those who surrender LIBERTY in the name of security, shall have neither." - Benjamin Franklin.

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